Washington DC will now let smaller polluters get permits to pollute less

The US environmental regulators are proposing to approve a new permit program for Washington DC. This program lets smaller polluters get permits that legally cap their emissions below major source thresholds.

Before this, a smaller polluter might have faced the same regulatory burden as a large factory, even if their actual emissions were much lower. This change means they can get a 'synthetic minor' permit. This permit legally commits them to lower emissions, which then exempts them from the more complex rules for major polluters. It makes it easier for smaller businesses to operate while still reducing overall pollution.